Green to start against Rockets

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said swingman Danny Green will return to the starting lineup at small forward tonight against Houston after missing Wednesday’s victory over Milwaukee with a strained left hamstring.

Green was initially hurt early in Saturday’s game against Memphis. The injury forced him to miss most of the second half and overtime of that game, as well all of the Milwaukee contest.

Reserve guard Patty Mills, who also missed the Bucks game, will return after spraining his ankle in shootaround on Wednesday.

Popovich said original starting small forward Kawhi Leonard will not travel on the Spurs’ upcoming four-game, six-day road trip, which begins Saturday at Charlotte. Leonard has missed 10 games with quadriceps tendinitis. He was originally slated to miss 10-14 days, but is about to begin his fourth week on the sideline.

Popovich said reserve swingman Stephen Jackson “might” participate in the trip. He has missed eight games with a broken small finger in his right (shooting) hand.